It's one of the last news days of 2011, and just about everyone has already checked out for the year. You know what that means, right? A slow news day. Really slow. Slowest of the year. As a result we've dug through some headlines and scared up a couple of news bits that we normally wouldn't have paid any attention to. At least for the most part.

In 2004, Freddie Highmore landed a role that child stars the World over could only dream of; the role of 'Charlie Bucket' in 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. While a competent actor thus far, it was Freddie's endearing rendition of Charlie that earned him Worldwide recognition, gaining the respect of his peers, the audience and the plaudits in the process.

Since then, the talented actor has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, in front of - and behind - the camera, and continues to please audiences with his heart-warming, authentic performances. In the run up to his latest release, The Art of Getting By, Freddie sat down with Shadowlocked and spoke openly about his career to date...

1. Freddie [Highmore], you’ve made a brilliant transition from child prodigy to adolescent actor. How have you found the transition?

Bob and Harvey Weinstein have had their names attached to tons of Oscar-nominated movies over the past couple of decades, but now they're looking to conquer an entire new medium: the stage. The New York Times reports that the Weinstein Company is developing a stage musical based on the movie Finding Neverland, which tells the story of the relationship between Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie and the family that inspired his most famous story.
Broadway director/choreographer Rob Ashford (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) is directing the stage version of the 2004 film. The musical has actually been in the works for a while now, and was originally supposed to premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse last month, but it was delayed when the Weinsteins decided it still needed some work. Supposedly these changes involved getting Barrie together with Sylvia (played by Kate Winslet in the movie)
»

Broadway is enjoying a renaissance -- and Hollywood is hoping to get a piece of the action.
With the motion picture box office in a slump, and Broadway on an upswing, an increasing number of film franchises are being transformed for the stage.
In fact, theatrical productions of feature films including "The Notebook," "Rocky," "Austin Powers," "Ghost," "Finding Neverland," "Once," "Diner" and "The Goonies" are all in the works. It's easy to see why.
Domestic box office attendance is at its lowest level in 16 years, and studios have struggled to fill seats throughout
»

London, Dec 22: A stage show based on the 2004 flick 'Finding Neverland', which explores the inspiration behind the Peter Pan character, will debut in London next year.

The producers behind Oscar winning films such as 'The King's Speech', are turning their attention to London's West End with plans for their first stage musical.

The Weinstein Company's show, 'Finding Neverland', is based on their 2004 film of the same name which starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, tells the story of how Jm Barrie's friendship with a young family inspired Peter Pan.

Stage show based on 2004 film, which explores the inspiration behind the famous character, to debut in London next year

The producers behind Oscar winning films such as The King's Speech, are turning their attention to London's West End with plans for their first stage musical.

The Weinstein Company's show, Finding Neverland, is based on their 2004 film of the same name starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, and tells the story of how Jm Barrie's friendship with a young family inspired Peter Pan. It will be directed by Rob Ashford, whose last West End musical was Shrek, and whose Donmar theatre production of Anna Christie was acclaimed this year. British actor Julian Ovenden is set to play Barrie.

"There are a handful of films Harvey [Weinstein] has worked on that seemed like they could become musicalised, and this was the best fit," said Ashford. The musical was originally planned to open in California last month,
»

Johnny Depp wowed fans, critics and earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination as Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie in director Marc Forster’s 2004 period drama Finding Neverland, the story of Barrie’s relationship with widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her sons and how they inspired him to write his classic play Peter Pan. According to the Arts Beat blog at The New York Times, The Weinstein Company moved forward with plans to adapt the movie as a Broadway musical after successful stage readings of the musical script and score in London last week.
»

Johnny Depp wowed fans, critics and earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination as Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie in director Marc Forster’s 2004 period drama Finding Neverland, the story of Barrie’s relationship with widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her sons and how they inspired him to write his classic play Peter Pan. According to the Arts Beat blog at The New York Times, The Weinstein Company moved forward with plans to adapt the movie as a Broadway musical after successful stage readings of the musical script and score in London last week.
»

Johnny Depp wowed fans, critics and earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination as Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie in director Marc Forster’s 2004 period drama Finding Neverland, the story of Barrie’s relationship with widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her sons and how they inspired him to write his classic play Peter Pan. According to the Arts Beat blog at The New York Times, The Weinstein Company moved forward with plans to adapt the movie as a Broadway musical after successful stage readings of the musical script and score in London last week.
»

Chicago – Poor George Zinavoy. He’s been cursed with striking good looks, remarkable artistic talent, a dedicated mentor and a gorgeous woman who clearly desires to have sex with him. Thankfully, nothing appears to have gotten in the way of his stubborn pessimism, comfortable apathy and belief in the meaningless of existence. How can George be expected to care about his homework when he’s too busy contemplating his mortality?

For that matter, how can audiences be expected to care about such an unsympathetic, oddly soulless Holden Caulfield clone? He goes through the usual existential motions with all the urgency and conviction of a sleepwalker. As played by baby faced, moist-eyed Freddie Highmore, George registers as a mopey bore rather than a fatalist. Highmore’s genial sweetness lacks the raw edge and rebellious spirit that the character desperately needed in order to be the least bit credible.

Infamous American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd are targeted in a “war on crime” campaign by the fledgling FBI during the 1930s.

“I became fascinated with [John] Dillinger because of certain mysteries in his life,” explained filmmaker Michael Mann when talking about the central character in his period crime drama. “He was very bright, and great at doing what he did. He was regarded as one of the best bank robbers in American history.” The Indiana born gangster achieved folklore status during 1930s. “Dillinger at one point was the second most popular man in America after President Roosevelt; he was a national hero for a good reason. He was robbing the very institutions, the banks, which had
»

Aardman's festive film knocks Twilight off the top of the tree while fending off Happy Feet Two and Hugo; and Margaret proves to be a one-screen wonder

The festive battle

Despite experiencing the first dip in takings in its run so far, Arthur Christmas nabs the top spot for the first time in its four weeks of release, knocking off The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. Shrugging off the challenge of two major new releases targeting the same family audience – Happy Feet Two and Hugo – the festive Aardman animation fell a mild 25%. Its cumulative total of £11.48m is already more than five times its opening weekend gross (£2.11m), with plenty of life in it yet.

Arthur Christmas is following a very similar pattern to Disney's A Christmas Carol, which likewise released in early November, and stood at £11.33m after its fourth weekend, on its way to a total of more than £20m.
»

For decades, Harvey Weinstein’s name has been synonymous with the Academy Awards, and his influential fingerprints have been all over the Oscar season. Weinstein annually produces, distributes, supports and guides quality films from the silver screen to the Oscar podium. And while Weinstein has earned a reputation as being a master of the awards campaign, he’s also (first and foremost) a movie lover with an appreciation for our industry’s rich history.

Hysteria, a mischievously inspired romantic comedy, is based on the surprising truth of how Mortimer Granville came up with the world's first electro-mechanical vibrator in the name of medical science.

The Rum Diary star on his love of Europe, flying by private jet and why he can't stop smoking

In the weeks leading up to this interview, I began to think there must be some law that makes it illegal not to love Johnny Depp. Everyone melts into a puddle at the mention of his name. Men go even loopier than women – and the higher men rank on the cool-ometer of fame, the more in love with Depp they seem to be. Keith Richards, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Manson, the Gallagher brothers – the dudes all adore Johnny – while this month's GQ anoints him "the world's coolest actor". The director of Withnail & I was only talked out of retirement to make Depp's latest movie "because it was for Johnny", and recently Ricky Gervais was swooning in this paper: "His emails are like poetry. He's made of bohemia."

Machine Gun Preacher is the true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds an unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children.

Gerard Butler (300) delivers a searing performance as Childers, the impassioned founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organization in Golden Globe-nominated director Marc Forster’s (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) story of violence and redemption. Our good friend James Kleinmann managed to score an interview with Butler to discuss the film which is in UK cinemas now.

Machine Gun Preacher is the inspirational true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds an unexpected calling as the saviour of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children. I caught up with lead actors Gerard Butler and Michelle Monaghan in San Francisco to talk about their latest movie where I found out what they do to help others through charity.

Gerard Butler (300) delivers a searing performance as Childers, the impassioned founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organization in Golden Globe-nominated director Marc Forster’s (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) moving story of violence and redemption. When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help
»

As a regular fixture of British television since the early 2000s, Tony Way is one the UK’s most recognisable ‘don’t-i-know-you-from-that-thing’ actors. He’s appeared alongside comedy heavyweights Vic and Bob, Simon Pegg, and Ricky Gervais in a range of shows. It was one such comedy giant that gave Tony his first break into the world of movies – the millennium’s favourite urban simpleton, Ali G.

Having worked with Ali G In Da House director Mark Mylod on Vic and Bob (for which Tony has also contributed as a writer) and The Fast Show, Tony scored the part of Dave, one member of Ali G’s notorious crew, the ‘Staines Massive’, to whom the streetwise interviewer had often referred in his TV skits. Tony would also star alongside fellow homeboy Martin Freeman, better known as Tim from The Office, and soon to be Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.

IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.